Mollusk
This South Lake Union brewpub dishes up big flavors and insouciance in generous portions. Sure the lighting is a little bright, and the clusters of young Amazonians who crowd the bar might be shouty, but it’s hard to resist the fun when you realize the rose petals brewed in your red actually reinforce the beer’s fragrant quality, or that the Harvey Wallbanger, made with fresh blood-orange juice, might deserve a revival. The bar food merrily snatches powerful flavors from around the world, with curries, spicy rice balls, and a singular crowning triumph, the okonomiyaki waffle griddled savory batter studded with seafood, topped with juicy bits of bacon and octopus and fat shavings of dried bonito quivering from the heat of the waffle beneath.
PRO TIP: Happy hour, called “gavage hour,” starts early and continues through what many call dinnertime (3 to 7 p.m. weekdays). You can get a deal on a flight of aquavit or the house nachos with shishito peppers, smoked-avocado crème fraîche, and garlic chips.
THE DETAILS: Open daily for dinner, weekends for brunch, plus Sunday movie night with $4 pints and pizza.
